Camping Trip & Finding Focus

This past weekend, we loaded up the car with an unbelievable amount of gear and took off for the mountains. It was perfect timing to unplug, get away from the responsibilities at home, and enjoy some family time camping.

The girls were ecstatic to play in the tent and explore the campground. They particularly loved the chance to pee in the woods. :) Austin and I were equally ecstatic to escape projects and chores for a couple of days. Camping can be a lot of work to prepare for and clean up after, but it's awesome quality time. And it helps if you do some cooking ahead of time like I did with our Chicken Taco Hobos. 

We were right in the middle of our Leaf Unit in Cora's curriculum and she got to make some leaf impressions and came home with a huge variety of leaves for the projects in the rest of our unit. 

Austin loves all things outdoors, and although he prefers wilderness camping, he loved getting all his girls outside and in the dirt. 

For me, it was a time of spiritual rest. I have to admit, it was hard for me to put down and ignore my phone the whole weekend. It's pathetic how addicted we become to being "connected". But I realized that as I took my focus away from the distance between my nose and my phone, the more I was able to see myself, my family and everything around me. I was able to finish Heidi Baker's Birthing the Miraculous, which is an incredible book. It was so inspirational to hear of the ways that God is moving through her life and ministry. I think so many times we put God in a box, and all He is waiting for is for us to let go of our preconceived notions of how He should move and minister, and loosen our grip on our lives so He can work through us in amazing and miraculous ways. The following passage really spoke to me and brought great perspective to where I'm at. When we are waiting for God to reveal His plans for our lives and for Him to bring dreams and promises to fruition, we can become so hyper focused on what we DON'T see, that we lose our focus on the ONE who holds our future. It matters how I choose to see my circumstances. It matters what I choose to focus on. It matters whether or not I wait in an attitude of trust, patience and confidence that He will fulfill each and every promise.

Our last night, we were able to watch this incredible sunset. I couldn't help but remember the lyrics of Bethel's song, Wonder, as I watched the sun slip over the horizon. I am so grateful for a couple days to spend with my greatest blessings, and that the Lord shifted my focus back where it belonged.

"May we never lose our wonder, Wide eyed and mystified, May we be just like a child, Staring at the beauty of our King"